Some civil disputes could be characterised as emotionally charged, but few are as contentious and hard fought as matters involving the home. This month we have two examples of highly contested cases and a call from the court for compulsory ADR.

First, we will consider a boundary dispute over 17 inches of land where the legal costs ran to over £200,000. These figures speak for themselves, but if you had any doubt, the circuit judge who heard the case confirmed that the cost was “beyond my comprehension.” He was also critical of the fact that both parties wanted the claim to be heard in the multi-track (reserved for claims worth more than £25,000) when it was a small claim (i.e. valued at less than £10,000, where costs would have been limited).

Last month, over 9 million people across the world came together to show their care for our planet’s future. By switching off their lights for an hour at 8.30 p.m., they demonstrated that small actions can make a big difference. During the darkened hour, people sat by candlelight and had the opportunity to reflect on how they could reduce their impact further.

Those lucky enough to work remotely at the start of the COVID-19 era were able to keep themselves and their companies going, despite the intense pressures of that challenging time. 

This shift to remote work fundamentally changed how we use IT. Use of Zoom increased by 30x in April 2020 as meetings moved online. Slack workspaces proliferated. And corporate spending on cloud services grew by nearly 40%.

It increasingly seems that many of these changes will remain in place, as the pandemic continues and organisations appreciate the benefits of keeping at least a partial remote footing.

When was the last time you made an effort to catch up on your filing? Last month? Last summer?

Many times, we struggle with filing because it feels overwhelming, we’re not sure where to begin or we don’t have an efficient system in place.

Filing can be inconvenient and time-consuming. However, this is often because you don’t have the right tools or supplies to quickly grab a folder and create a label.

Filing usually means getting up from your desk, walking to a supply cabinet, locating the file folders, walking back to your desk, typing a label, feeding the label sheet into the printer, retrieving the label from the printer and finally assembling the file. It’s no wonder we resist it!

But there are ways to simplify your filing system. Here are two quick tips.

One of the many exciting aspects of working as a Legal Secretary is the fact that there is so much possibility for career progression. Experienced Legal Secretaries can become executives in their own right, but many also choose to move on to roles such as that of a Paralegal. Making the decision to move forward into a new role such as this is both exciting and rewarding, but you would be forgiven for feeling slightly daunted about beginning. You have made a successful career as a Legal Secretary, so how can you take that next step up to become a Paralegal? And how can you make sure that you stand out in a sea of other legal professionals and law graduates?

The law is not something we have to actively go looking for – it governs our daily lives. Thus, those interested in the subject can use a variety of tactics to become more familiar with it.

In partnership with Lawyer Monthly, ILSPA partner Simply Law hears from John Watkins, Director of Employability at The University of Law, on the five best ways to get started in law.

Attend court

Courts are publicly accessible, and there is a gallery from which to observe proceedings. This will open your eyes to the culture of a courtroom and perhaps develop an awareness that television dramas don’t quite convey the full picture. 

Here is a selection of vacancies from our Legal Secretary Jobs Board this month:

Wills & Probate Legal Secretary – Green Wright Chalton Annis     

Location: Rustington

Salary: £22,000 - £24,000    

Green Wright Chalton Annis is looking to recruit a Legal Secretary/PA to join their friendly, busy and growing Wills and Probate team at the Rustington office.  Experience of working in a law firm is essential and knowledge/experience of Wills and Probate would be very useful.

View the full job description here:           

https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/196583/

Conveyancing Legal Secretary – Adams Harrison   

In last month’s edition of our journal, we outlined the Solicitor Regulation Authorities’ continuing competency regime. This has been in place for all legal businesses since 2016 and is something that all legal employees are expected to follow. The skill of self-reflection was considered, and a challenge was given for readers to identify the following:

• Personal strengths and weaknesses

• Tasks that could be done better

• Areas where improvements in knowledge, skills or behaviours were needed

Armed with answers to these questions, you will have made your first personal reflective entry. In this article, we will consider what you should do with your reflections to ensure that you are making the best use of your training log.

Professional development is essential for every admin, regardless of experience. But when that training comes with a large price tag, it’s often out of reach.

The solution? Ask your employer to make an investment in you.

This investment can take many forms. It can be reimbursement for a webinar, registration for a professional development conference or even subsidising a course at your local community college.

Asking your employer to take a financial stake in your career can feel a bit uncomfortable. But when you approach them with a solid business case that explains why you’re requesting the training and what your employer and organisation can expect in return for their investment, it’s a lot less intimidating.

Here’s how to improve your chances of getting approval:

Here is a selection of vacancies from our Legal Secretary Jobs Board this month:

Trainee Legal Secretary (Private Equity) – Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP     

Location: London

Salary: Competitive    

An exciting brand-new role has arisen for an ambitious and enthusiastic Trainee Legal Secretary. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is looking for a new Secretary, to provide effective administrative and secretarial support services to fee earners within the London Private Equity team.

View the full job description here:           

https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/jobs/candidate/job/193293/